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The Idea

Finding the Ancestors Courage

My name is Joan Southgate. I am 72 years old and every day for the last three years Ive been walking in my neighborhood, trying to lose weight and stay healthy. A couple of years ago, a thought started singing pace to my footsteps as I walked early one morning:

•What was it like and how can I praise them?•What was it like?•How can I praise them?•What was it like and how can I praise them?

The answer fell into place just as I rounded the corner for home. I am going to walk their path! I will walk part of the route of the Underground Railroad to honor all those unknown slave ancestors.

•I will take their journey and set myself free.

I am going to walk 439 miles this spring! 439 miles. I will take the first steps March 31, 2002, Easter Sunday morning 50 miles east of Cincinnati. The walk starts in Ripley, Ohio because this small town on the rivers bank was the first free soil for many escaping slaves. All of my seven grandchildren will join me for at least part of the journey. See a map of the route I will take.

•I want my grandchildren to learn all that their ancestors did right.

Read the Case Western Reserve University Magazine's article
about Joan Southgate and IN THEIR PATH!

Email: gonnawalk439@hotmail.com